We've played five Game 7s in a row there. So we've been playing playoff hockey for a while now. -- Jimmy Howard

ANAHEIM, Calif. – The Detroit Red Wings didn't panic when
they were outside of the NHL playoff race looking in entering the final week of
the regular season.

So don't expect them to do it now after dropping Game 1 of
their first-round playoff series against the Anaheim Ducks, who won 3-1 Tuesday
night at the Honda Center.

The Red Wings finished the regular as the NHL's hottest team
by winning their final four games to move from ninth place to seventh in the
Western Conference, earning a sixth playoff matchup with the Ducks while
avoiding a first-round date with regular-season champion Chicago.

Had the Red Wings lost any of those games in regulation,
their streak of consecutive playoff appearances would have ended at 21.

"We've played five Game 7s in a row there," said goaltender
Jimmy Howard, who made 24 saves in Game 1. "So we've been playing playoff
hockey for a while now. Little setback last night but I think it's been
forgotten about and everyone is looking forward to getting back out there and
playing tomorrow night."

If the Red Wings were tight Wednesday, they weren't showing
it.

They had an optional off-ice workout at Anaheim Ice and
several players – Howard included – took advantage of the warm weather to kick
around a soccer ball and throw a football outside the rink.

• Despite Howard's optimism – did you expect him to take
any other approach to the series? – history says dropping Game 1 on the road means
the Red Wings will likely lose the series as well.

In the 29 series where the Red Wings have lost Game 1 on the
road, they have an 8-21 record. That includes a 2-9 mark since 1970.

The only two times they won since 1970 after dropping the
opener was in 2010, when they beat Phoenix in seven games, and 1997, when they
knocked off Colorado in six before winning the Stanley Cup.

Anaheim's Andrew Cogliano also made his postseason debut and
said it was everything he imagined.

"It was unbelievable," said Cogliano, who got no sleep
Monday night. "It was a great time. I'm glad we got the win. Just the
atmosphere and intensity of the game, it's another level. I obviously never
experienced it before.

"But the overall excitement, you just feel like every play
out there means something and it's magnified that much more. It's a good
feeling. It's fun to know you have to 20 guys playing for one goal. It's a
great thing to be a part of."

• Anaheim coach Bruce Boudreau had a little fun with the
local media Wednesday.

After answering a few questions, Boudreau told the assembled
press corps to "go have some lunch." At that point, one of the local reporters
asked Boudreau if he was buying.

"No ... not when we get the sixth page," Boudreau cracked to
the amusement of reporters.

So much for coaches and players claiming they don't read the
newspaper.

• The same two goalies who started Game 1 will be back in the
nets Thursday night.

It's a given Howard is going to play every game for the Red
Wings barring an injury or some other unforeseen circumstances but there was
some question as to whether Boudreau would go with Jonas Hiller or Viktor Fasth
after they split time during the regular season.

"I think there's a possibility he'll play Thursday,"
Boudreau deadpanned. "The only one that went in was a double deflection off (Daniel)
Cleary's head. They had some great chances. We're gonna have to play better.
They had too many good chances in front of the net. They're very good at it.

"I don't know if Hiller is going to be able to continue
making all those saves even though he's a great goaltender. We'll just have to
be a better team."